PM calls premiers to autumn meeting to reduce internal trade barriers

OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau wants to talk with his provincial and territorial counterparts later this year about breaking down trade barriers from within.

The prime minister says he will host a first ministers meeting in the fall aimed at making the country’s economy more interconnected.

Trudeau says it makes little sense that foreign companies have easier access to Canadian markets than Canadian companies do from one province to another.

The announcement of the planned meeting came after premiers were briefed on international trade issues by Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., David MacNaughton, at their gathering Thursday in New Brunswick.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office did not provide details on the exact timing and location of the first ministers meeting.

The federal government says internal trade is worth about $370 billion, or just under one-fifth of the country’s overall economic output.

It predicts that removing interprovincial trade barriers could create an economic benefit roughly comparable to the projected benefit of the Canada-European Union free trade agreement known as CETA.

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Think it is apropos the discussion include climate reality. Just read about how seasons are changing due to what is happening to the climate. We have two premiers opposing the carbon tax, with cars already under threat because of NAFTA, it might be a good time to discuss a NATIONAL Transportation system with every province there. Greyhound has gone out West, people need transport; jobs are needed in the East and construction of an EV train service would be an idea. Not to mention the buses, drivers, maintenance and so forth. While it is good to discuss international trade, it is probably more relevant to discuss national concerns. It would probably be a small step to adjusting to new realities that no one would fight.